Details
Title Shubert, George D.
Date b. May 5, 1842
Description George D. Shubert, born of Irish descent in Philadelphia on May 5, 1842 and active in the local lithographic trade ca. 1860-ca. 1920, produced one of the only two known extant diaries of 19th-century Philadelphia lithographers. Son of wheelwright Benjamin (b. ca. 1820) and Wilamina (b. ca. 1825 of German descent), Shubert was active in the lithographic trade by 1860 while he resided with his parents and several siblings at 312 North Twentieth Street (Ward 15). In 1862 he appears to have briefly enlisted in Company C, Pennsylvania National Guard Infantry Regiment, and at the end of 1865 worked at the establishment of Jacob Haehnlen.
In early 1866, he transferred to the employ of George Breuker (i.e., Breuker & Kessler) and began his nine-month diary held at the Special Collections of Temple University Library. During the year, he was elected secretary of the Lithographic Printers Union and was a member of the Catholic reading society, Philopatrian Institute, the A. B. Kendrick Society, and the Washington Hose Company. He also often visited the Diligent Hose Company Library, the Academy of Music, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts as well as was learning the violin. Shubert's work day usually began between 7 and 9 AM and could last until 7 PM, with occasional time away from the shop for personal and business errands, including having his photograph taken and work for the union. He also wrote in one entry that he left the shop at 11 AM one June day as it was "being too warm to work." As of 1920, Shubert remained in the trade as a lithographer in a department store and by 1926 was no longer listed in city directories.
Between 1870 and 1880, Shubert continued to live in North Philadelphia with his family, including his brothers Robert (b. ca. 1845), a printer and Charles G. (b. ca. 1848), agent of prints, at 230 North Juniper Street and later 1323 Race Street. By 1886, Shubert relocated back to the 200 block of Juniper Street where he remained until at least 1890. In 1900, he married Emilie (b. ca. 1850) and resided at the household, including a servant, of his sister-in-law, Mary Lehr at 1812 North Eighteenth Street. Within the decade, he appears to have married Emilie's sister Mary (b. ca. 1845) as a woman with this name is listed as his wife in the 1910 census. The couple resided in West Philadelphia at 1501 Belmont Avenue (Ward 24) with a lodger. According to the 1920 census, Shubert and his wife continued to live in West Philadelphia. The household at 1501 North Forty Fourth Street included his widowed "daughter" (likely stepdaughter) Mable Mish (b. ca. 1875) and "single" boarder George Mish.
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
References See Breuker, George; Breuker & Kessler; and Haehnlen, Jacob.
Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920
George Shubert Diary, 1866, Temple University Libraries, Special Collections
Philadelphia Business and City Directories, 1866-1926 (intermittently)
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles